Parenting a Parent: National Council on Aging Works to Help Struggling Seniors

Home Care in Indianapolis, INThe National Council on Aging (NCOA) is looking to change perceptions of seniors and those with disabilities receiving public assistance with research and surveys.

This month, the Council released “An End to Stigma: Challenging the Stigmatization of Public Assistance Among Older Adults and People with Disabilities” to better define the issue and provide recommendations for overcoming it.

“Financial issues can present many challenges to aging adults and their children or loved ones as they navigate the responsibilities of caregiving, especially for the first time,” says Great Care Founder and CEO Julie Sullivan. “This report could help families and caregivers of struggling seniors who may qualify to enroll into core programs to help alleviate the stress.”

According to the NCOA, one in three Americans aged 65+ is economically insecure — lacking the resources needed to meet basic food, housing, and medical needs.

“While there are numerous of public benefits programs that can help, the stigma surrounding these programs often is a key reason that eligible seniors do not enroll,” says the council.

“The report is based on in-depth interviews with 40 local counselors who work each day to find and enroll eligible seniors into benefits. It examines the stigma surrounding five core public benefits programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help), Medicaid and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).”

Challenging the narrative of “deserving” and “undeserving” to dispel notions that a person is “accepting a handout” can make a big difference in a senior’s quality of life, says Leslie Fried, Senior Director of the NCOA Center for Benefits Access.

“The value of these benefits can exceed more than $6,000 annually, which for many low-income older adults would raise their income to more than twice the Federal Poverty Level,” she says. “It’s critical that we can illustrate how and why stigma stops people from considering these programs and share ways to overcome it. These programs can help struggling older adults pay for basic needs, reduce debt, and maintain their health and independence.”

According to the survey, not all benefits programs carry the same level of stigma.

“Counselors reported that universal benefits like Social Security and Medicare are popular and face less stigma. SNAP and Medicaid, however, often have stigma attached to them, which prevents eligible individuals from applying,” says the council.

The NCOA is looking to agency administrators and policymakers to reduce stigma and administrative burdens, such as long applications or difficult-to-reach social service agencies, that deter seniors from receiving much-needed support.

“The report recommends that they improve enrollment processes through existing waiver programs such as shorter applications, experiment with new processes, and improve data-sharing between agencies.”

The NCOA Center for Benefits Access says erasing benefits stigma takes a coordinated effort.

“Counselors are extremely important in overcoming the stigma that threatens to keep older Americans from enrolling in these important programs, but a growing senior population, and shrinking budgets often limit these resources,” Fried says.

“Just recently a Senate appropriations bill proposed eliminating funding for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program – or SHIP. The 15,000 local SHIP counselors provide assistance with Medicare issues and with enrolling in the Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs, making them instrumental in dispelling the stigma around other important benefits programs.”

For benefits counselors, the report recommends they:

• Focus on the structure of the program to demonstrate that other seniors are also struggling and that applying for assistance is not a personal failing.

• Provide person-centered benefits enrollment assistance to screen clients for all benefits available and help them apply.

• Demonstrate the value of a benefit to show how it can free up money for rising costs, such as expensive medicine or health care

To read the full report, visit www.ncoa.org/stigma. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

 


The professionals at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your home care needs, including respite care. Great Care is a non medical in-home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Fishers, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 240-9101 for more information.

About Julie S.

Julie Sullivan is the Owner at Great Care of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Great Care is a licensed, personal services agency, providing in-home care services to the Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding areas. We serve the personal health and daily care needs of seniors or individuals who prefer to stay at home, but require assistance with everyday activities, such as dressing, personal hygiene, meal preparation, laundry or errands. Our team of certified nurse aids and home health aids can provide you with personalized, in-home care services to meet your needs, including:
• Daytime hourly in-home care
• Temporary or post-hospital respite care
• 24-hour, around-the-clock home care
• Morning and evening care
• Overnight / Slumber care
In addition, we offer our Care Compass service, to assist in setting the course for the next stage in your loved ones life. We guide you through the currents of aging, and help you find your true north. Our licensed nurses, with experience in hospice and geriatric care, will help guide you through the complex and often sensitive journey of selecting an in-home care service, and will provide a smooth transition to a new way of life for your loved one, without the anxiety and fear.
Our current nursing and management team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the home healthcare services industry. All of our caregivers are bonded, insured and screened thoroughly, so you know you’ll be receiving the greatest care possible. That’s why we stand by our mission: to deliver the same, quality care we expect for ourselves and our loved ones.